Device for examining ocular motility

Abstract

A device for examining ocular motility of an individual includes a display surface for displaying a fixation light thereon, an arrangement for determining the position of the individual's head, and/or an indicator that can be adjusted with respect to position on the side of the individual to indicate the indicator points, representing his or her subjective visual impression, on the display surface. A position sensor is provided for adjustment and/or detection of the orientation and distance of the individual's head in relation to the display surface; and a sensor mechanism detects and determines the position of the indicator point on the display surface. Data about the position of the individual's head in relation to the display surface and about the position of the indicator point on the display surface are transmitted to an evaluation unit, which processes this information to determine at least one ocular motility characteristic of the individual.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. Device for examining ocular motility, comprising: 
       a display device for displaying a fixation light on a display surface; and  
       at least one of  
       (i) an indicator that is adjustable at a location of the a test person, and that indicates a position of indicator points representing the test person's subjective visual impression, on the display surface; and  
       (ii) a device for determining position and distance of the test person's head in relation to the display surface;  
       wherein at least one of the following is true  
       (i) the indicator includes a sensor mechanism for detecting and determining the position of an indicator point on the display surface; and  
       (ii) the device for determining the position and distance of the test person's head comprises sensor means for adjustment or detection of an orientation and distance of the test person's head in relation to the display surface; and  
       wherein data about at least one of i) the position of the indicator point on the display surface, and ii) the position of the test person's head in relation to the display surface are transmitted to a computerized evaluation unit, which evaluates this information to determine at least one ocular motility characteristic.  
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the display surface is approach sensitive and has an approach sensor mechanism that is part of the sensor mechanism for determining the position of the indicator point. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       the display surface comprises photosensitive means which form the sensor mechanism for determining the position of the indicator point; and  
       the indicator comprises a light pointer, which is operatable by the test person and whose purpose is to generate a spot of light as an indicator point on the display surface.  
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       the indicator includes a pointer which can be operated by the test person and is spatially totally or partially unfixed; and  
       the sensor mechanism for determining the position of the indicator point detects the position of the pointer according to at least one degree of freedom in three dimensional space, for the purpose of determining the position of the indicator point on the display surface.  
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       the display surface includes photosensor means; and  
       the device for determining the position of the test person's head comprises a headlight projection unit, which can be fixed at the test person's head and which generates a spot of light that indicates the position of the head, on the photosensitive display surface.  
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device for determining the position of the test person's head comprises a tracking system, which is worn at the test person's head and which detects the position of the test person's head according to at least one degree of freedom in three dimensional space. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device for determining the position of the test person's head comprises one of an ultrasound distance measuring device and an optical distance measuring device for detecting the distance of the test person's head from the display surface. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a video camera system with image evaluator for detecting one of: 
       the spatial position of the test person's head;  
       position of a spot of light projected by a light source that is fixed at the head of the test person, on the display surface;  
       position of a pointer element, which touches the display surface; and  
       position of a spot of light, projected by the pointer on the display surface.  
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       the computerized evaluation unit contains one of a neural network, an expert system, and algorithms for diagnostic evaluation of information provided by the device for determining the position of the test person's head; and  
       the indicator can be adjusted with respect to at least one eye motility parameter.  
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the computerized evaluation unit finds a line of sight along at least one of horizontal, vertical and radial axes. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a database unit in which at least measurement data delivered by the sensor(s), can be stored. 
     
     
       12. A device for examining ocular motility, comprising: 
       a display device for displaying a fixation light on a display surface; and  
       an indicator that is adjustable at the location of a test person, for indicating a position of indicator points representing the test person's subjective visual impression, on the display surface; wherein  
       the indicator includes a sensor mechanism for detecting and determining the position of an indicator point on the display surface; and  
       data about at least one of i) the position of the indicator point on the display surface, and ii) the position of the test person's head in relation to the display surface are transmitted to a computerized evaluation unit, which evaluates this information to determine at least one ocular motility characteristic.  
     
     
       13. The device according to  claim 12 , further comprising a device for determining position and distance of the test person's head relative to the display surface. 
     
     
       14. The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the device for determining position and distance comprises sensor means for adjustment or detection of an orientation and distance of the test person's head relative to the display surface. 
     
     
       15. A device for examining the ocular motility of a test person, comprising: 
       a display device for displaying a fixation light on a display surface;  
       an indicator that is adjustable at the location of a test person, for indicating a position of indicator points representing the test person's subjective visual impression, on the display surface; and  
       a device for determining the position and distance of the test person's head in relation to the display surface, said device comprising sensor means for adjustment or detection of an orientation and distance of the test person's head in relation to the display surface;  
       wherein data about at least one of i) the position of the indicator point on the display surface, and ii) the position of the test person's head in relation to the display surface are transmitted to a computerized evaluation unit, which evaluates this information to determine at least one ocular motility characteristic.  
     
     
       16. The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the indicator includes a sensor mechanism for detecting and determining the position of an indicator point on the display surface. 
     
     
       17. A device for examining ocular motility of a test person, comprising: 
       a display device for displaying a fixation light on a display surface; and  
       a device for determining the position and distance of the test person's head in relation to the display surface, said device comprising sensor means for adjustment or detection of an orientation and distance of the test person's head in relation to the display surface;  
       wherein data about at least one of i) the position of an indicator point that is manipulated by the test person on the display surface, and ii) the position of the test person's head in relation to the display surface are transmitted to a computerized evaluation unit, which evaluates this information to determine at least one ocular motility characteristic.